September 2008

That's right! I'm pregnant! We are overjoyed, and I am sick, sick, sick. As in, that's why I haven't posted in a week and a half kind of sick. Fortunately, I have found that one of the few smells that doesn't wig me out is the "new book" smell. Suffice it to say that I've had my nose in books during the few moments that my stomach will allow the eye-brain connection to work properly.

And so the journey begins down the yellow-bricked road toward parenthood. Except - if you look closely enough, those bricks turn out to be bite-sized cheddar cheese crackers!

In only seven short months, we look forward to welcoming this new little person into our arms and our family.

Honestly, I'd never seen anything like this before. A local group of artists and musicians, the Paperhand Puppet Intervention, performed "I am an Insect" to the collective oohs and aahs of entranced spectators, big and small.

Their performance run happens only once a year, but I can only imagine how much time it must take to make by hand all of the life-sized (and larger than life) puppets, props, and costumes.

I kept on thinking to myself during the performance "If I had children, they would leave with enough inspirational fodder for their own creative exploits to keep them going for months." If you live in the area, they'll be putting on a few more performances next weekend at the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh. Drop everything and go!

The other week, Patrick and I made the bike journey to Duke's humongous library. I had but one purpose - fill my arms with as many books as I could carry, bike home, and plop on the couch with the first one in hand.

This was a Friday. Apparently, that alarm-like sound is the library's way of letting people know that they are closing. How would I know that? None of the students studying in the little cubbie-desks along the wall seemed particularly concerned when it first sounded, and I didn't see any flashing lights or smell any smoke, so I figured all was good. I proceeded to the alternative education section, which I wasn't surprised to find less peopled than the other areas. I was, however, concerned when I finally made my way down to the main floor to check out and there were no lights on. Hmm. I wondered if the other side of the library (they are connected by a third floor bridge) might be more, ahem, open. And then I see Patrick waiting outside. I open the door and ask him what's going on just when the alarm sounds. No biggie, noone showed up, but I had to leave my pile of un-checked-out-reading-bliss on a countertop and make my way out sans books. How odd. I mean, isn't everything in the U.S. supposed to be open 24/7? And how justifiably ridiculous I felt. An outlaw in a library.

Fortunately, I did make it back just as they were opening the following morning in order to snatch my book pile before it was reabsorbed into the ginormous book mass!

Speaking of books, you might have noticed my own little book store in the left side bar. Way back when, back in the days of Montessori By Hand, I put together a list of recommended children's books and resources. I never did bother transfering that over to this blog because the process would have been so tedious. Then I noticed that some of my other blogging friends had set up their own Amazon associates store, and I jumped on the boat. Now you can find all those books and more (I've also added a section on recommended music for children, which I'll constantly be adding to) in one place. Put them on your library list, find them used, buy them at your local bookstore ... but if you do end up purchasing from a link in my store, thanks for putting a few pennies in the "keep Patrick reading obscure history books throughout grad school fund!" I mean, really now ... three to four books a week? If he doesn't need glasses now, he will soon!

I've discovered this jewel of a thrift store (dangerously) nearby. Everything But Grannie's Panties is no misnomer. Thanks to Grannie's, we have a sofa, desk, dresser, wooden filing cabinet, several side tables and chairs, an antique wedding ring quilt and this avocado green crocheted throw. I already feel like a regular - I even have a rapport with the resident kittens.

This crocheted throw is doing funny things to me, though. It's been whispering in my ear "Psst ... Meg! Learn how to crochet so you can make me a colorful friend. You know, the sofa really needs a granny square throw more than ANYTHING right now.!"

You see what I'm up against? An eloquent and persuasive crocheted throw and that late summer yarn-on-the-brain condition. There's only one way to deal with this - finally give in and learn how to crochet. I've been knitting for about five years now and do that with a certain level of comfort and familiarity, but that crochet hook really freaks me out. Like, um, where's the other hook? Just one? How odd.

Any suggestions on where to begin, since my current life goal seems to be making a granny square throw for my sofa? :

Amelie sure knows how to take advantage of that oh-so-warm, late summer light. I've been doing a bit of the same, relishing these last few days of my unofficial summer break. (An official summer break would not have included an international move. Ahem.) My parents returned to the West coast after a nice visit, during which my mom brought our house up to "Mom Standards," for which I am very grateful. In other words, even the boxes in the basement that were threatening to remain unpacked for all eternity were somehow unpacked and organized. Nothing like an fresh pair of helping hands to get the job done.

And thus begins my new life - working from home. I'm still experimenting with this new rhythm. Hours fly by just as fast when you work from home, and I am easily distracted by sundry knitting and and household projects. (It must be nearing Autumn - I have yarn brain.) I do have a few big things in the works which I will be weaving into my writing in these next few weeks, so focus is going to be essential. I envision this blog becoming a more integral part of my days, helping me to reflect upon and ground me in my creative endeavors. So, expect to see me around these parts more regularly - even daily. This space is calming, cathartic, and challenging all wrapped in one. Thanks for meeting me here, my friends.

welcome

I'm Meg McElwee, a multi-passionate artist dividing my creative energy between fiber, paint, parenting, and the written word. Perhaps the most creative of all my pursuits is experimenting with the mixture of motherhood and art. My favorite thing to do is marvel at the world alongside my three young children, whom I unschool. I fill our days with adventure in nature, art projects, oodles of books, and family music jams.
I have authored two sewing books, and taught a class on Craftsy. You can find my sewing patterns at Sew Liberated